The patriotic wave strengthens in Portugal: CHEGA doubles its votes in the municipal elections

The CHEGA party, led by André Ventura, has achieved a historic result in Portugal’s local elections, winning three municipalities and doubling its popular support compared to 2021, confirming the advance of the patriotic wave on the Iberian Peninsula.

With over 80% of the votes counted, CHEGA has become the country’s third political force, behind only the Socialist Party (PS) and the Social Democratic Party (PSD). The socialists, who vergoned much of the territory, suffered a significant setback, especially in the major cities.

“This has been a good night for CHEGA. We have consolidated ourselves as a force with local responsibility. It wasn’t the victory we wanted, but it was an important victory for Portugal,” Ventura said from the party headquarters in Lisbon. CHEGA won in Albufeira (40.5%), São Vicente (49.2%), and Entroncamento (37.3%), achieving absolute majorities against the PSD-CDS alliances and left-wing coalitions led by the PS.

The patriotic party presented candidates in 307 of the 308 municipalities, more than any other Portuguese party, and its message—against corruption, in defense of national sovereignty, family, and citizen security—has resonated especially in rural and inland Portugal, where discontent with the two-party system has turned into a protest vote.

Ventura emphasized that the immediate goal will be to turn electoral momentum into governance capacity: “Unlike other parties, we do not turn defeats into symbolic victories. We will work to transform these successes into more mayorships and local representatives.”